Saturday, December 29, 2007

Penguin Gets Promotion

I saw this, and thought it was a joke. Turns out, not so much.

A Penguin has been promoted to Colonel in Chief of the Royal Norwegian Guard




Nils Olav received a promotion on Wednesday to Colonel in Chief of the Royal Norwegian Guard. Yes, this high rank in the Norwegian military has in fact been bestowed on a penguin.

In 1962 young lieutenant in the Royal Norwegian Guard Niels Egelien visited Edinburgh Zoo and was quite taken with the penguins. On a return visit in 1972, he arranged for his regiment to sponsor a king penguin which they adopted and awarded the rank of Lance Corporal. The name was chosen on behalf of the lieutenant who first got excited about the penguins and the then king of Norway, King Olav. Since then, every time the soldiers have come to visit, Nils Olav has received a promotion.


More here.

So far, I don't know of a reaction from the Penguin Liberation Front, who have some of the coolest logos ever.

1 comment:

Illicit Dreams said...

Penguins are quite the sneaky bird... Infiltrating the military and all.

Here's to wishing you and your's a happy and healthy new year as well.